Indian challenge ends

CALCUTTA, NOV 13: Syed Fazaluddin fought hard today and even looked like causing an upset, but poor temperament in the tie-breaker and a cou...

CALCUTTA, NOV 13: Syed Fazaluddin fought hard today and even looked like causing an upset, but poor temperament in the tie-breaker and a couple of bad service games in the second set did him in. Pitted against top seed Oleg Ogorodov in the Futures Tennis Circuit semi-final at the South Club today, Fazaluddin8217;s gallant fight ended in one hour 32 minutes with the scoreline reading 7-6 7-2, 7-5 in favour of the Uzbekistan player.

About two hours later, the Indian challenge in the singles ended with Chennai boy Vinod Sridhar going down to second seed Vadim Kutsenko 7-67-10, 6-1. Sridhar, playing under floodlights for the third consecutive day, stuck to his plan of keeping the ball in, high and deep, and wait for the opponent to make a mistake. However, unlike Sridhar8217;s earlier opponents, Kutsenko kept a cool head patiently waited for the inexperienced Sridhar to tire.

In fact, Kutsenko went for winners in the first set and committed a number of unforced errors. Sridhar ran away with a 5-1 lead beforeKutsenko realised his folly and decided to play like Sridhar in keeping the ball in. The Uzbek broke back Sridhar8217;s seventh and ninth game to restore parity. Sridhar8217;s nerves cracked in the tie-breaker. Visibly rattled, the Chennai committed unforced errors. The second set was a one-sided affair with Kutsenko playing with a calm head. He allowed Sridhar to hold only the second game too take the set 6-1.

Earlier, the Fazaluddin-Ogorodov game was marked by long rallies. Both preferred to stay back with Fazaluddin at times, venturing to the net. Ogordov, who has slipped in ATP ranking this year, made some excellent passing shots whenever his opponent approached the net. Ogorodov broke Fazaluddin in the fourth game of the first set to forge ahead. The Indian, however, broke back in the ninth game after a disputed line-call that went in his favour.

In the first set tie-break, Fazaluddin made a number of unforced errors to lose 7-6 7-2. The second set too went neck and neck till the crucial 11th game. Havingtraded a break each, Fazaluddin served weak in the 11th game to give it away. Ogordov held on to his last serve to set up a clash with countrymate Kutsenko.